Ignore costly gifts on Father's Day - clean Dad’s car

How about asking how his day has been? Sending your love on a greetings card? The odd beer or two when you’re old enough to drink?

No, none of the above.

I will tell you what, apparently, makes dads happy: a Nintendo Switch Mario Red gaming console featuring Joy-Con controllers and a seven-inch OLED screen. It’s only £309.99, so grab one for him while stocks last.

If he’s not into gaming - unlikely these days, I know - there’s the Emporio Armani Men’s Chronograph Bracelet Strap Watch. It’s £329, but powered by quartz movement and water-resistant up to 50 metres, so I assume you get your money’s worth.

Or there’s Bogner’s water-repellent down gilet to keep dad warm and snug, at £350.

I plucked these items from the website of a national tabloid, under the headline ‘luxury Father’s Day gift ideas to make your dad feel valued.’

Should my husband receive any of the above on Sunday he’ll be straight on the phone to my daughters wondering which raid on Hatton Garden they have been party to.

I know these are luxury items, but really. For those wanting to ‘spend a bit more’ there’s a Swiss-made diver’s watch costing £1,300.

Very few people can afford to give their dad lavish gifts on Father's Day. Picture: Pixabay

Does anyone short of Elon Musk spend this sort of cash on their dad’s special day?

I was amazed to discover that Father’s Day - which originated in America - dates back to 1910. It’s been a very slow burn on this side of the pond. Throughout my childhood Father’s Day was a non-event. It was so low-key I don’t think we knew when it was. Dad didn’t get so much as a pair of socks.

Once the day became a thing, gifts were confined to the aforementioned socks or a bottle of Newcastle Brown. It was the 21st century before anyone really took Father’s Day seriously. Shops began stocking cards and special aisles appeared full of treats for dads.

In recent years it’s exploded on a scale that’s starting to rival Mother’s Day, which we all know is a hideous display of commercialism that sends people into a shopping frenzy.

For all the hoo-ha, we adult kids still didn’t buy anything for my dad, and he wouldn’t have wanted it. My mum didn’t believe in Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day was treated with similar disdain.

That’s obviously not the case with other families, who clearly dig deep into the family coffers.

It’s all way over the top. Isn’t the idea of Father’s Day to allow kids to show their dads a bit of Mother’s Day-type appreciation? If we are going to have Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, a small token of appreciation such as a bunch of flowers - blokes like blooms too - or a box of chocolates is sufficient. Better still, help your parents out with some jobs around the house, or clean the car - this is always appreciated.

But no matter what their age, children should not be made to feel they need to spend ridiculous sums on parents to show they care.

I had a peep at what men’s magazine GQ is recommending as presents for dad. It singled out a Fortnum & Mason Mini Meat Pie Selection as the Best Overall Father’s Day gift.

That’s more like it - I’m sure most men would get immense pleasure from this. I know my husband would.

Other ideas included a subscription to regular cheese deliveries - this would also be a hit with my husband - and a set of personalised beer cans. None of these gifts come cheap, though: they’re all around the £25 to £30 mark.

My advice is, if you are going to celebrate Father’s Day, Mother’s Day or Grandparents’ Day - the first Sunday of October if you want to stick it in your diary - put your debit card and show you love them in other ways. They will like that.